Lobelia spicata
pale-spiked lobelia
Overview
Lobelia spicata is an upright herbaceous perennial in the bellflower family, producing a single mostly unbranched stem 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall from a basal rosette of leaves. The lower leaves are oval to spoon-shaped, while the stem leaves are smaller and lance-shaped, all with finely toothed edges. From early to midsummer a slender spike of small two-lipped flowers opens from the bottom upward; the flowers are pale blue, lavender, or nearly white and about 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) long. Compared with the showier great blue and cardinal lobelias, the flowers here are smaller and paler. The plant grows from a fibrous root system and behaves as a short-lived perennial or biennial, often relying on self-seeding to persist. It occurs in moist to dry meadows, prairies, open woods, and old fields on a range of soils. Like other lobelias it contains alkaloids that are toxic if eaten. The seed capsules split to release many tiny seeds, and the rosette overwinters as a low cluster of leaves.
Native Range
Lobelia spicata is native to eastern and central North America, from Nova Scotia and Ontario south to Georgia and west to the Great Plains. It grows in moist to dry meadows, prairies, open woods, and old fields.Suggested Uses
Lobelia spicata is used in native plant gardens, prairie and meadow plantings, and pollinator borders on moist to average soil. It suits naturalized areas where it can self-seed among grasses and other wildflowers. The slender flower spikes add vertical line to informal beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from late spring into midsummer, roughly May to August depending on region. The spike opens gradually from the bottom upward over several weeks. Bees and other small insects visit the two-lipped flowers for nectar. After bloom, rounded seed capsules form along the stalk and split to shed numerous tiny seeds.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pale blue to whiteFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight